Remember When We All Wanted This Guy?

Here’s a stone cold lock for you: if you walk into any grocery story in Starkville today and head toward the dairy case, Renardo Sidney’s face would be plastered on every milk carton.

“HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BASKETBALL PLAYER?” it probably reads.

Once a USC commit who had his scholarship offer revoked, coveted by UCLA and then pursued hotly by Arizona State, Sidney ended up at Mississippi State.

He hasn’t yet played a game because, unsurprisingly, Sidney hasn’t been cleared by the NCAA yet, something everyone in the Pac-10 who wanted this kid was concerned about from the start.

As the 6-2 Bulldogs get set to tipoff against struggling UCLA later on today at the Wooden Classic in Anaheim, MSU has already lost to Rider of the MAAC and pleasant surprise Richmond from the CAA.

Don Jackson, the Sidney family attorney who has been pressing the NCAA Clearinghouse to make a decision on the freshman for some time, is hoping that a decision will finally come down this week after the immensely talented young forward has missed eight games already in 2009-10.

Per Andy Katz’ blog on ESPN.com:

And that’s why at least one source with direct knowledge of the situation says Jackson shouldn’t hold his breath, nor should the Sidney family be waiting by the phone to see if he’ll be on the court any time soon.

According to the source, the difference between the Riek and Sidney cases is that a specific violation has not been identified. Riek was suspended for amateurism violations. Sidney is being questioned for how he and his family supported themselves while living in Los Angeles for two years after the family moved there from Jackson, Miss., for high school.

Riek is fellow MSU freshman John Riek, a 7′1″ center who has missed the first eight games as well while serving a suspension for, unsurprisingly, amateurism issues.

The longer and longer this draws out for Renardo makes it more and more unlikely that Sidney will ever take the court for Mississippi State this season, if ever. That would likely lead to him fleeing to Europe like Brandon Jennings did to get a season or two of pro basketball seasoning before coming back to America to participate in either the 2010 or 2011 NBA Draft.

If you’re late to the game, the NCAA is investigating how the Sidney’s family supported themselves financially after moving to Los Angeles from Jackson, Miss. two years ago. MSU head coach Rick Stansbury has allowed Sidney to practice with the team but he refuses to let him play, lest the Bulldogs are forced to vacate potential victories in games where Sidney participates if he is ultimately ruled ineligible.

Arizona State has had enough drama with eligibility for one season. We had to wait until the Friday night before the 2009 season opener against Idaho State until Burfict, who had academic issues, was finally cleared to play for Dennis Erickson.

In retrospect, and with a little foresight back in they day, I’m pretty glad that it’s Mississippi State dealing with this issue and not Herb Sendek.

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